With the NBA Draft approaching, fans are delving deeper into the draft to find the next star. The 2023 NBA Draft is believed to be a generational class, presenting numerous fascinating prospects. The Nets currently possess two 1st round picks, pick #21 &; #22, with one being their own 1st rounder and the other acquired from Phoenix in the Kevin Durant trade. There have been talks of The Brooklyn Nets trading up in the draft by ESPN Draft analyst Jonathon Givony.
It is no secret that the Nets have struggled to fill the backup Center position in recent seasons. Non-centers such as Bruce Brown, Blake Griffin, and Markieff Morris have been
utilized as the backup 5, but unfortunately without success.
Consequently, during the 2022-23 season, despite Nets Center Nic Claxton averaging a career-high 9.2 rebounds per game, the Nets ranked as the 29th best rebounding team in the NBA. This has led many fans to desire drafting a Center in the upcoming draft.
Among the prospects, aside from Victor Wembanyama, the most highly regarded Center in this draft class is Duke Center Dereck Lively II. Standing at 7'1 with a 7"7 wingspan and weighing 215 lbs, the 19-year-old Lively is considered an extremely talented Center prospect. During his time at Duke, he averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks on 65.8% FG in 20.6 mpg. Dereck Lively is currently projected to go anywhere from 10th-14th in the NBA draft and there have been rumors of the Dallas Mavericks being open to trading the 10th pick in the NBA Draft. The Nets have a chance of taking a shot of moving up with a combination of the surplus of wings on their roster and their draft picks. However how far the Nets want to move up in the NBA draft is the real question at hand.
Although he demonstrated the ability to hit several open 3-pointers at the Pro Day, Lively
is not known as a 3-point shooter, with a college average of 15.4% from beyond the arc on 0.4 attempts per game.
What makes Lively so enticing is his status as a true Center who excels at rebounding,
shot blocking, and protecting the paint while also being somewhat capable of switching onto the perimeter. Lively is a defensive beast, ranking 8th in total blocks in the NCAA, 10th in blocks per game, and 1st in Defensive Box Plus/Minus.
Additionally, he ranks in the top 20 in rebounds & rebounds per game in the ACC. Lively is an incredible weak-side defender, using his length to stifle opponents driving to the rim. He impresses with his ability to guard in the pick and roll, thanks to his lateral quickness and massive 7"7 wingspan, which allows him to swat away most shots at the rim.
Offensively, Lively primarily excels as a play finisher, with the majority of his points
coming from catching lobs and positioning himself in the dunker spot. He is also capable of being the roll man in the pick-and-roll.
As mentioned earlier, he possesses the common weaknesses of many Centers. He is not a threat from behind the 3-point line and is only a 60% free-throw shooter. While he is an excellent defender, his current weight of 215 lbs may pose challenges when guarding more physically imposing Centers, similar to the problem faced by Nic Claxton.
During his time at Duke, Lively struggled with fouls, averaging 2.7 fouls per game in just 20.6 mpg. However, his potential as a Center could be very high. He reminds me of Utah Jazz All-Rookie Center, Walker Kessler, and the immediate impact he made as a backup big during his rookie campaign. While Lively is certainly a bit of a project, considering that the Nets only have two Centers on the roster, one of whom could potentially leave in free agency next offseason, it would not hurt to have some Center insurance.
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